Lakers subdued by Westhill again

In recent years, the Skaneateles girls basketball team has slowly closed the gap between itself and Westhill, who has long ruled the OHSL Liberty division.

Still, the Warriors are on top, a fact the Lakers could not change last Thursday night in a hard-fought 46-33 defeat.

Arriving with a 10-3 record and a full week of rest, Skaneateles showed energy and intensity throughout the night, playing solid defense and controlling the boards while playing Westhill to an 11-11 first-quarter tie.

Also, the Lakers got Westhill's star center, Lisa Olszewski, into foul trouble. Still, Olszewski got 10 points before she went to the bench early in the second quarter, and a surge late in the half put the Warriors in front, 28-21, by halftime.

After letting the deficit grow to 11 in the third quarter, the Lakers made its own run late in the period, threatening to make it interesting.

However, Westhill sophomore Carly Cooper hit a long 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer, and Skaneateles never got closer than seven points again as its attack struggled against the multiple defenses the Warriors threw at them.

Caryn Crary led the Lakers with 11 points, while Staci Dudden had 10 points and Alexis Jones earned six points. Cooper and Olszewski (despite her foul trouble) each had 14 points to lead Westhill along.

This is part of a five-game Laker homestand that continues Tuesday with Tully and includes a big game this Thursday night against Cazenovia.